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Oman to host the 2020 World Cancer Congress

Oman will welcome up to 4,000 cancer control experts from more than 140 countries at the 2020 World Cancer Congress.

It is our pleasure to announce that Muscat, the capital city of Oman, will host the World Cancer Congress and the World Cancer Leaders’ Summit in 2020.

The winning bid results from the joint efforts between the National Oncology Centre Royal Hospital Muscat, the Oman Cancer Association - both members of UICC - as well as the Oman Convention Bureau and the Oman Convention & Exhibition Centre.

Professor Sanchia Aranda, President of UICC, said: “After an extensive evaluation and review of the submitted bids, we are pleased to announce that the city of Muscat, Oman, has been selected to host the 2020 World Cancer Congress and the World Cancer Leaders’ Summit. We appreciate that such bids involve considerable work, and we thank our members and the other applicants for their enthusiasm and commitment to organising such important global cancer control events in the region, in collaboration with UICC.”

The bid was submitted by Dr. Wahid Al Kharusi, FRCS, President of Oman Cancer Association, Dr. Basem Al Bahrani, Director and Dr. Zahid Al Mandhari, FRCPC, Deputy Director, National Oncology Centre, with the support of HE Dr Ahmed Mohammed Obaid Al Saidi, Minister of Health of the Sultanate of Oman.

“The World Cancer Congress aims to strengthen the action and impact of the cancer and the wider health community on national, regional and international scales through a multidisciplinary educational programme and high-calibre attendees,” said Dr. Wahid Al Kharusi.

“Hence the theme of our bid: ‘Shed Some Light and Make a Difference’. Moreover, the World Health Organization (WHO) predicts that incidence of cancer in the Middle East will double by 2030, so felt it was crucial to keep raising awareness of the disease, especially across the Gulf Cooperation Council countries (GCC) and Africa. Welcoming the WCC in Oman will certainly foster our work to educate the local population, and help the global cancer community to further make a difference,” added Dr. Zahid Al Mandhari.